Trio of K12-Powered Online School Graduates Go for the Gold in PyeongChang

February 12, 2018

HERNDON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–After graduating from an online high school powered by K12 Inc., three elite athletes are competing among the world’s best at the Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang. Two elite Snowboarders, Arielle Gold and Meghan Tierney, as well as Freestyle Aerial Skier, Ashley Caldwell, will go for the gold the week of February 11th.

“The K12 family salutes Arielle, Meghan, and Ashley for their dedication to excellence in sports and academics,” said K12 President of Academics, Policy and Schools Kevin P. Chavous. “We are proud that increasing numbers of elite athletes from coast-to-coast are finding success with the personalized learning model. It is extremely gratifying to see K12-powered alumni represent our nation on Team USA.”

Arielle Gold is a 2014 graduate of Destinations Career Academy of Colorado (formerly Insight School of Colorado.) The 21-year-old Halfpipe Snowboarder from Steamboat Springs, Colorado has been a member of Team USA for four years and is studying to be a veterinarian in college.

“Online school allowed me to spend more time on the mountain in the early morning when weather conditions were better and focus on my studies at night or on bad weather days,” said Gold. “It also helped when traveling, as I easily took school with me.”

Three-time Winter Olympian Ashley Caldwell graduated from The Keystone School in 2010. The 25-year-old Ashburn, Virginia native earned a gold medal at the 2017 FIS Freestyle World Championships, where she became the first woman to cleanly land The Daddy – a full, double full, full.

Meghan Tierney is a 2017 graduate of The Keystone School. The 21-year-old from Vail Valley, Colorado will compete in Snowboardcross. Meghan’s mother, Sandy, says her daughter is “over the moon” to be representing Team USA at her first Olympic Games. Sandy has high praise for Meghan’s supportive online teachers at The Keystone School.

Kevin Chavous, as well as teachers and students, are available to interview for a glimpse inside a virtual classroom and to discuss why increasing numbers of America’s elite athletes are attending school online.

About K12 Inc.

K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN) is driving innovation and advancing the quality of education by delivering state-of-the-art, digital learning platforms and technology to students and school districts across the globe. K12’s curriculum serves over 2,000 schools and school districts and has delivered millions of courses over the past decade. K12 is a company of educators providing online and blended education solutions to charter schools, public school districts, private schools, and directly to families. The K12 program is offered through more than 70 partner public schools, and through school districts and public and private schools serving students in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. More information can be found at K12.com.